Thursday, July 15, 2010

Time to Feed the Kids! San Diego Food Bank’s “Food 4 Kids” Backpack Fundraiser


Today is the launch of the second annual Food 4 Kids Backpack Program Fundraiser!

Food 4 Kids provides a backpack full of food for chronically hungry kids to take home over the weekend. The official launch date is today, July 15th and is an this important local cause.

Food 4 Kids Backpack program was launched by the San Diego Foodbank in 2007. Every Friday, participating children receive a backpack filled with child-friendly foods. They need this weekend bag because while they receive free or reduced cost meals in school, food may not be available to them on weekends or school holidays. To qualify, students must attend a school where at least 80 percent of the population receives free or reduced cost lunches, and receive a teacher referral. During the 2008-2009 school year, the program served just 200 children in eight schools throughout San Diego County. With help from Food 4 Kids, they are now serving 550 children in 19 schools and are looking to expand that to 850 children this year.

How you can help:
1. There is a fundraising page on Firstgiving.com at www.firstgiving.com/food4kids, People can make donations here, add comments, and keep track of progress. This launches today and runs through the end of August.

2. People are encouraged to collect neutral backpacks (as in no logos and preferably black or red since those are the kids’ favorite colors) and kid-friendly non-perishable foods (applesauce, cereal, fruit cups, mac ‘n cheese, pretzels, etc. No junk food but just be aware that they are not doing nutrition education here, just trying to fill hungry tummies.) The collection for this food and backpack drive will be at the Little Italy Mercato on August 21.
3. A “dollar-a-dish” event throughout the month of August by participating restaurants. These restaurants will select one of their best selling dishes and for the month of August will contribute $1 for every dish sold.

As of today’s date, the following restaurants have agreed to particpate:

Alchemy: Sea Bass Ceviche

Bencotto: Pollo all Pizzaiola

Café Chloe: Steak Frites

Casa de Bandini

Casa de Pico

Casa Guadalajara

Cosmopolitan Restaurant: Watermelon Salad

Cowboy Star: Meyer Natural “Certified Humane” Filet

Croce’s

Cucina Urbana: Pizza ordered at lunch

Dining Details (Caterer)

Gaglione Brothers: Meatball Sandwich “Father Joe”

George’s at the Cove: Date salad with arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, and pomegranite vinaigrette

JRDN: Lamb Lollipop

Jsix: Monthly Sustainable Seafood Dish

Kensington Grill:: Hog Bar

Lotsa Pasta: Timpano

NINE-TEN: Hamachi Sashimi with marinated baby shitake mushrooms and scallion vinaigrette

O’Brothers: Big O Burger

Pizza Fusion: Farmers Market Pizza

Playa Grill: Carnitas Plate

Ritual Tavern: Niman Ranch Skirt Steak served with Roasted Market Vegetables, Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Sherry Demi Glace

Royal India: Chicken Tikka Masala

Sessions Public: Ribeye Fries

Soleluna Cafe: Pasta of the Day

SoNo Trading Company: Cuban Sandwich

Starlite: Jidori Chicken

Stingaree: Manage a Trois of Fried Point Vincente Calamari, Mexican White Shrimp, Bay Scallops with Sherry Chili Aioli and Lemon

Terra: Sea Bass

The Red Door: Meat Loaf

Wine Steals (all four locations): whole pizza ordered
Flippin Pizza (all four locations and their new truck): whole tomato basil pizza

Urban Solace: Duckaroni (Mac n’ Chese with Blue Cheese, Duck Confit, Roasted Garlic, Arugula, and Scallion and New York White Cheddar Mac n’ Cheese with Caramalized Bacon and Charred Tomatoes

Zenbu: Hot Rock

Please visit these restaurants during the month of August and ask about their dishes!

The Food 4 Kids committee includes Co-leads, Caron Golden and Alice Robertson, food writer Susan Russo, Chefs Diane Stopford and Amiko Gubbins, KNSD anchor/reporter Catherine Garcia, and PR pro Peyton Robertson. Stay tuned for August “dollar-a-dish” event details.

Spread the Word!
Please help us all spread the word about this fabulous by liking on Facebook   www.facebook.com/food4kids, and using the Twitter hash-tag #food4kidsSD.

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